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She gaped at him. “There’s more?”
“I have the box at home,” he repeated. “I’m sorry I didn’t get it to you earlier. You know, with my dad going to the hospital and us calling it quits, I forgot.”
Sitting up straight, she asked, “What’s inside the box? Are there photographs? My stuffed bear? My charm bracelet?”
“I didn’t open the box. It’s your personal stuff, not mine. But you can stop by to get it after work.” He paused to rub his stubble-covered chin. “Or I can bring it to your house later tonight.”
She didn’t think she could wait that long. She blinked rapidly to clear her eyes and flipped the lid up on the jewelry box. The ballerina was still intact. She turned the small dial on the bottom three times and the familiar tune began to play. The name of the song escaped her. Didn’t matter. She could hum it note for note.
One by one, she handled each item in turn before setting them on her desk. A few pieces were familiar. Instead of her childish costume jewelry, the box held her mother’s finest pieces. She recognized the thick gold chain with the Cameo locket. Her mother had worn it often. She also remembered the beautiful three-stranded pearl necklace.
She sniffed as the tears returned. When she glanced up at Skylar, he was beaming with pride. He’d given her back a piece of her childhood, a lost piece of her family. Because of him, she had a connection to her past and heirlooms she could pass down to her children.
Anna jumped up and circled the desk. She threw her arms around Skylar’s neck. Hugging him with a fierce intensity, she couldn’t stop thanking him. Excitement bubbled out of her. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Of course, I am. You know how much this meant to me. I can’t believe you did this for me.”
Serious now, he cupped her face between his large hands. “I would do anything for you.”
She swallowed convulsively. “You would?”
He nodded.
“Why?” she asked. “Why would you do anything for me?”
His mouth swooped down to take hers in a passionate kiss that nearly knocked the shoes off her feet. Her hands locked onto his arms, more for support so she wouldn’t fall than to be romantic. Despite how he’d treated her, she sank against him in blissful denial.
Raising his lips a few inches, he said, “After Clare died I made up my mind to never love another woman. The last thing I wanted was marriage and kids.”
“I know.” Was he going to tell her again why he’d dumped her?
His thumb gently caressed her cheek, and love shone in his eyes. “Then you blew into my life like an unexpected hurricane, and I haven’t been the same since.”
“Sorry?”
“What I’m trying to say is that I shouldn’t have let you go.”
“Let me go? You pushed me out of your life and didn’t look back. You didn’t even call to tell me how your father was doing. None of you did. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?”
He grimaced. “Mom and Becca both wanted to reach out, but I told them I would talk to you.” He tucked loose hair behind her ear. “I’ve been trying to work up the courage.”
She blinked, confused. “Why would you need courage to talk to me?”
“Haven’t you guessed?”
She shook her head.
“I am crazy in love with you.”
Her pulse raced. “That doesn’t make sense. If you love me, why did you dump me?”
“I thought you wanted to return to your old life. I was giving you a way out. When you returned the ring and said goodbye, I was sure I was right.”
“You ripped my heart out,” she said. “What was I supposed to do? I wasn’t going to beg you to stay with me if you weren’t interested.”
“Not interested? I would do anything to keep you in my life, to always have you, to grow old with you. You are my everything. Don’t you know how beautiful and incredible and irresistible you are?”
